The Role of Mixing in Ozone Dissolution Systems

Abstract The mixing efficiency of four alternative ozone dissolution systems, including conventional bubble diffusion and pipeline injection/diffusion reactors, were compared by measuring the variability of ozone residual measurements at the outlet of each reactor. The standard deviation and coefficient of variation of a time series of residual measurements were used to provide a quantitative measure of the level of mixing in the reactor. The results indicate that properly designed pipeline dissolution systems provide significantly improved mixing over oxygen-fed or air-fed bubble diffusion systems. Minimum mixing criteria for bubble diffusion systems cited in the literature may underestimate the level of mixing required to achieve stable ozone residuals downstream of the dissolution chamber of conventional bubble diffusion chambers.